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Chapter Four

Gwendolyn

Two Years Before Present Day

“My lady, the carriage is here.”

“Thank you!” I called from the stairs. I guess breakfast will have to wait, I thought to myself.

I had spent far too much of the night reading, and then I slept through most of the morning. My hair was tied back, just as usual, but it had a blue bow woven into the twist to match the color of my favorite dress.

My maid was so talented. It was the perfect style for a day when my hair was not as presentable as I wanted it to be.

I grabbed my shawl and nodded to the servant who opened the door for me.

“Thank you, George,” I said with a smile.

He nodded.

There before me was the royal carriage. I’d seen it countless times, and yet it still was stunning to behold.

It was an enchanting pearl-like color. How they got it to reflect just like the ocean treasures beneath the waves, I would never know.

With the new book I’d chosen to read to the prince tucked under my arm, I walked to the carriage.

As I waited for the footman to open the door, it opened on its own accord, and there, all bent over in order to poke his head out, was Prince Peter. He was rather tall, so it seemed a struggle for him.

I stepped back, placing a hand on my heart in surprise.

“Good morning, Gwen!” Prince Peter shouted.

I turned to flee from fright and misstepped.

“Ah!” I shouted, covering my face with the book, closing my eyes, preparing for some pain as I fell to the gravel beneath me. Only, I did not feel any pain. Instead, I felt Prince Peter’s hands reach out and catch me. I took a few steadying breaths.

“I think it’s all right to come out from behind the book now. I have you, Gwen.” He did have me. His strong, warm hands held me tight against him. His warmth flowed into me, causing me to never want to leave his embrace. But I had to. It was entirely improper.

“Your Highness!” I said, pushing his hands away from my waist. “You—you—you cannot startle a woman like that!” I said, straightening my dress and feeling overly flustered as some of my hair fell across my cheek. My hair ribbon was probably askew.

“I take it you are not one for surprises?” he asked, and at least, he had the decency to look a bit bashful.

I walked over to him, picked up the book I had dropped in the kerfuffle, and frowned at him.

“No, I am not.”

“I apologize, Lady Darling,” he said, emphasizing the Lady part of my title while giving a rather impressive bow–a bow, the likes of which, coming from someone from his high station, should never have been given to me.

“I am all right. I do not like shouting,” I said, pressing the side of my face for a moment as if I were getting a headache like the one I would get when mother constantly shouted at me.

“I shall remember it,” he whispered, holding his arm out as if to escort me to the carriage, himself.

“I am not sure I should enter the carriage with you. What else do you have planned in order to frighten me? I fear my heart will not be able to take it.”

“Nothing is amiss inside. I only thought we could ride along the shoreline for a while. I have a favorite beach I thought you might like.”

I did enjoy an adventure–and the sea .

“I shall go, but no more surprises,” I scolded, taking his arm. The footman opened the carriage door, and Prince Peter helped me up.

I sat across from him, and he grinned.

“So, Lady Darling, what tale will we begin today?” He tapped the roof of the carriage, and then we began to move.

“I shall not tell you. This one you will discover as I read.”

The prince smiled and leaned back, closing his eyes.

“I am ready.”

Across the misted seas and beneath the fathoms lay a treasure unlike all the treasures ever known to man or magical being.

A treasure even the dreaded King Falcon could not claim.

A treasure only unlocked by those who have hearts of purity, minds of honor, spirits of compassion, and airs of patience and humility within their souls.

Pirates hunted for these gemstones hidden below the waves, but there was never a pirate worthy of those treasures hidden beneath the sea.

“You know,” Prince Peter interrupted, opening his eyes and looking at me. “I have never understood this desire for treasure.”

“You do not?”

“No—these gemstones in this story are merely rocks. We have an entire beach full of them.” He leaned over to move the curtain and pointed to the shoreline and the thousands upon thousands of rocks spread about.

“Yes, well, the gemstones on your crown couldn’t be made from sea rocks,” I said with a smile.

“Could they not? Maybe, I will have to fashion one,” he said with his overly wide grin.

“That would be rather interesting.”

“I guess, I understand. They are beautiful, but to die for treasure ? That seems like such a waste.”

“Indeed, it does, and yet pirates seem willing to do anything for treasures like these gemstones in the story.”

“What is your favorite gem?” he asked.

“What? Me?”

“Yes, I already told you I prefer beach rocks in a crown, but if I were to make a crown for you, what would be your choice for stones?”

“I am not a princess. I am only a lady .”

“Just pretend with me, Gwen.”

I thought for a moment. I liked that Prince Peter did not need fancy gemstones. Of course, gemstones are beautiful , I thought, but I also understood what he was saying. I had always been incredibly fascinated by pearls, not merely for their appearance, but by how they came to be.

“Do you know how a pearl is formed, Your Highness?”

“From oysters, of course,” he said, pushing some of his wavy locks from his eyes.

“Yes. However, in order for a pearl to form, a speck of debris must enter the oyster. Once this happens, the oyster creates layer after layer of lacquer to protect itself from this foreign object. To the oyster, it is protecting itself from something potentially harmful, and by protecting itself, it takes that item and creates a beautiful pearl.”

If only I could be strong enough to protect myself as an oyster does, from my mother , I thought.

“My, that is—I never knew that. I think pearls are, perhaps, even better than sea rocks. Is that what I shall use for your crown? A crown of pearls?”

“I am just a lady.”

He leaned back and smiled, looking at me in a way that made me nervous. “Is there some law that says a lady can not wear a crown?”

“I mean, no–but–”

“Then just dream with me a little, no need for rules.”

“But rules keep us safe.”

“Or in a box, a cage—and don’t you wish to spread out those wings and fly?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows, causing me to smile.

“I am not a bird, Your Highness. But yes, to play along, pearls would be my choice then.”

“And, of course , you would choose pearls. They suit you. Do you have your own strand of pearls? Ladies can have them, correct?”

“Yes, ladies wear them, and no, I do not have any; however, Mother has several, and from time to time, I have borrowed them. ”

“Then, it seems that when I fashion your crown of pearls, I must also make a strand to match!” he said with glee.

“Prince—”

“Let me have my dreams, Lady Darling, will you?” he asked.

His eyes were far too sweet. I was sure he could get whatever he desired when he looked at a woman in such a way. I continued with my explanation of the pearls.

“I also love that every single pearl is so unique. So many colors and shapes.”

“Do you know where diamonds come from?” he asked.

“Caves?”

“I mean, yes, they are found there, but a man came to the city when I was just a lad and explained that diamonds are only created after intense pressure is forced upon carbon for a very long time. They are first merely lumps of coal.”

“Coal? Like in the fireplace?” I asked in surprise.

“Yes, but it goes through a change only when under immense pressure.”

“Wow, that is fascinating.”

“I often think of it. We are all just lumps of coal until this life applies immense pressure upon us for a time and then that reveals our potential. Or so I like to believe. Maybe my curse is this intense pressure, and someday, I shall sparkle like a diamond and be free of it.” He smiled wide.

“I like that.” I returned his smile.

Is this true? Could this be?

It sounded lovely, and if it was true, it would be like all the pain of my life had a purpose, shaping me into a diamond in the end. “It seems, Your Highness, you should change your crown to diamonds.”

“Ah, I am very much still a lump of coal—or an ordinary sea rock. Maybe once I break my curse, I’ll be more than that.” His face changed instantly from hope to pain. He shrugged and looked out the window.

“Well, perhaps, you shall speak to some animals and make good use of your curse on the beach today,” I said as the carriage stopped.

The prince let out a loud laugh, slapping his knee.

I was happy to take away that look of pain.

He let me out of the carriage, taking my arm in his as we walked across the beach. He still held a smile as he turned to me and said, “And maybe you will finally call me Peter today.”

“I will not.”

He shrugged, “A prince can dream.”

Present Day

I watched, impatiently, in my vanity mirror as my maid, Olive, brushed through my blond hair.

Perhaps, I should skip doing my hair and hurry over to the castle, I thought.

“I think I shall do a ribbon, today, Olive,” I said to my maid as I pinched my cheeks to add a flush of pink to my complexion, while also confirming that I was not dreaming.

I was there in Walden after having been saved from the pixies of Pixie Isle by the very handsome Prince Peter. I blinked at my reflection, intrigued by how different my blue eyes looked when alight with the joy of being in love.